Eel holder



MarCh 16, 1954 T. N. JONES, JR

EEL HOLDER Filed Jan. 22, 1952 v -I INVENTOR'- ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 16,V 1954 PATENT "F'FICE V32,671,979 a l VEELHOLDFR Y ormalnrJones, Jr., Richmond, Va.

Applicationianuari122, 1952, ser'iafNaeevxii V"3 Claims.

:"*Iliein'vention relates "tolan improvednevkice 'for v:securely holding "an eelbrthe likewhen vat one end thereof to limitforward movement oftheeel, an inclined block at the closure end ofthe 'tubular b'ody member to position the head of 'the eel 'fondeoaptatiom thetubular body member beingal'so slotted transve'rs'ely` at a' suitablev distance to A'the' rear 'of theclo'sure plate'v to permit .insertion of aknife or the like for decapitating lthe eel. s y Y A 'Various devices have 'been proposed for holding eels and the likeft'o permit removal of a hook 'fromthe eel Wjhile alive. Such devices are 'in generalrelative'ly complicated and .involve the use of'rnoving' parts. 'In contrast to such'prior devices the present deviceaims onlyto hold the eel to prevent inovem'ent'of its bodywhilefpresenting the head portion to a block andslotto facilitate v`decapitatiom and subsequent removal of the body 'from the severed head portion of the eel.

The primary objective of my device netto assist i'the VVfisherman inthe performance of a Somewhat dental-like operation on a live'eel to remove av foreign 'object from its mouth, but Yis intended forl use by those' who fish for'sh-lnot eels. 'Such 'persons usually fish forl pleasure'or ior'table use, or both, and desire "touse'all' of the timeat their disposal on vthe fishing grounds, catching fish, When Vthey are Aunfortunate l"enough to hook an'eel'they Wish't'oget'rid of lit 'quickly and resume fishing for sh. My Adevice enables v'such a fisherman to'draw the eelv through thetube to its intended! position on the execution block'in 'one end of the tube and'to keep the `head VinV such intended position by keeping rthe `for'fflsvhlrlg'tlme, 'While avoiding the 'tanglingof Bites, etcJ Caused by" the thrashing' al'lidfa (Cl. S48-#53.5%

live eel. VVMyde'vice has nosp'rings or "moving attachments and is designed for'thesole purpose of .speeding to its death any "eel or other denizen of the Watenhaving `small girth and Aconsiderable length, which the sizeof the device in yuse will contain, and which may becaught by ai hook and line s'h'erman. The holder is r-simple `in desigmha's no moving parts to get out of order, jcan'be Washed with a minimum of effort, 'requires no o'iling of parts, can be'made 'out'of many different materials, and in' varying siz'esto meet demand.

`Among the distinctive features 'of my -`ir'nic'an'- tion the following may 'be mentioned:

1. My improved vholderV simplifies,j removing the eel fromjt'he hook and conserves fishing time.

2. My'invention makes 'contact'with "the eels body and ones hands unnecessary.

3. `'The improved holder reduces'likelihoo'd of 'the liook'catching in hand or clothing.

"4. The size andlengtn'of the tube maybe varied depending on length and size of eels to be caught. The holder 'maybe made inV several sizes, alike vin allresp'ects except 'as 'tojlength, 2li diameter of "tube,distance 'of cross lslot'from closed end, 'and possibly material to be used in construction.

5. Thelongitudinal slot'in the tube andthe eross 'slot near the closedend of the tube preferably have's'mooth'edges toavoid cuttingiishing lines,` this being particularly importantwherea metal tube and' plate are employed.

6. If desired the open end of the tube'may'be ilare'd slightly to vmake the' veel's` 'entry easier.

"'7. The tapered 'block inside vthe tube is secured in'pos'it'i'on Vso as to keepit inV place; the block may be'made' of soft Wood, or othermaterial, and is preferablyv provided -"with a cross' slot or 'k'erf' to facilitatecutting off the'eels'head.

`8.`My holder avoids tangling of 'shing line and'jre'duces loss 'of hooks and lines.

"Q ,"'The holdermay be dipped in the water 'and washed'outside of the'boat after theV veel has been beheaded and the fishing line Vremove'z'dtherefrfny ll0. Theleador other'weight attached tothe `line"'can 'be pulled through'the slot or kept on outside'of the tube, as desired.

'11. The tubeis 4Inadeof material sufficiently thick' to hold its vShapel and toughenoughnot' to break'easily. y n y l2. 'No great skill `or strength required to handle'feelswlien secured in the'liold'er.

13. The holder ineludesnojmeying parts,i cams,

'e5 gears, *or the likefto'get'ot of order.

14. A kerf or notch in the wooden head rest enables the cutter blade to work more effectively.

15. A square cut base at closed end keeps the tube from rolling when laid down.

16. A hole near the outer edge of the cover over the closed end of the tube may be used in fastening or securing the knife to the device.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

In the drawing: y

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved holder;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View illustrating the operation of the holder.

Referring to the drawing, my improved holder in its preferred form comprises an elongated tubular member lo, which may be formed of any suitable inexpensive material, as for example asphalt material, a suitable plastic such as Bakelite, or of vulcanized fiber, wood, or a suitable corrosion resistant metal such as aluminum or galvanized iron.

The tube IB is provided with a slot II extending longitudinally thereof from end to end, the slot being enlarged at one end I2 to facilitate entry of the line. At the forward end of the tube a closure plate I3 is provided, which is vertically slotted at I4, the Slot I4 intersecting the longitudinal slot II in the tube It. The base of plate I3 is flat to hold the tube in such position that the slot I I is always at the top thereof.

In the lower portion of the forward end of the tube a decapitation block I6 is provided which may be secured to the tube by means of screws I'I, I'I and to the front plate I3 by means of screws I8, I8. The block I5 is preferably tapered at its rear end IS to serve as a guide for the head of the eel as it is drawn forwardly through the tube. The flat forward surface 2U of the block is preferably provided with a transverse slot or groove 2| which coacts with a transverse knife-receiving groove 22 in the tube Il] to facilitate beheading the eel. A hole 23 may be provided in the front plate I3 to permit attachment of a string for holding a knife to be used in beheading the eel. Preferably the block 2d is nicked at its front end as indicated at 24 to intersect the vertical slot I4 in the front plate to provide a guide for the fishing line.

It will be understood that the tube IU, front plate I3 and decapitation block I6 may be made of any Suitable materials. In a satisfactory specie embodiment of the invention the tube has been made of asphaltic material, and the end piece I3 and decapitation block I6 of Wood, but these materials may be varied without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. Furthermore, while the parts are shown secured together by means of screws other fastening means may be employed.

The dimensions of the various parts may also be Varied considerably from what is shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention. The position of the slot 22 and groove 2l with respect to the front plate should be suicient so that the hook swallowed by the eel will be included with the head portion of the eel rather than with the body portion when the head is severed from the body. Generally when an eel takes the hook the part of the hook furthest from the mouth end will be not more than two and one-half inches from the end. The slot 22 and groove 2| are so arranged that a knife applied through the slot 22 will entirely miss the hook. The diameter of the tube I0 should be large enough to readily accommodate an eel of the largest size likely to be caught in a particular vicinity. If desired the entry end 25 may be flared to facilitate the operation of drawing the eel into the holder.

v |Ihe operation of the device, as will be largely apparent from the foregoingdescription, is as follows:

When an eel has been hooked and brought to the edge of the boat the section of fishing line nearest the eel is passed through the slot II in the tube ID, the open end of the tube being placed nearest to the eel. The bottom of the open end of the tube nearest the eel is then placed under the eels head, and the fishing line beyond the closed end of the tube pulled on until much of the eel is inside of and its head -is at the forward or closed end of the tube. The line being pulled on is then placed under the tube opposite the longitudinally slotted section wherev it is held by the left hand, which is also engaged in holding the tube now containing the head end and a substantial portion if not all of the eel. A sharp knife is then thrust through the cross slot 22, decapitating the eel, as it will rest for a short distance from the end of its head or mouth, on the wooden block (headrest) inside of the tube and secured firmly to it. The wood block is preferably tapered from a third to a half of the diameter of the tube at its closed end, to a feather edge, about five inches inside of and toward the open end of the tube. On this block the eels head end rests. The tube is then upended and the eels body dropped out of it. lThe eels head containing the hook is removed through the open end of the tube, the fishing line retracing its entry path, clearing the tube. The hook can then be removed from the eels head, rebaited and fishing can be resumed.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that numerous modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A unitary eel holder devoid of moving parts and adapted to restrain the movements of a hooked eel confined therein so as to permit decapitation of the eel at a point at the rear of the hook, said holder comprising a tubular body portion having a longitudinal slot therethrough to permit passage of a fishing line, a front plate adapted to limit the forward movement of the eel having a line receiving slot intersecting the longitudinal slot, said body having a transverse knife receiving slot intersecting the longitudinal slot at a point spaced rearwardly from the front plate, to permit decapitation of the eel while its nose portion is held against the front plate, and a decapitation block within the forward end of the tubular body portiorn'said block having an inclined rear portion providing a guide for the head of the eel, and a raised front portion having a transverse slot therein.

2. A unitary eel holder devoid ,of moving parts and adapted to restrain the movements of a hooked eel confined therein so vas to permit de'- capitation of the eel at a point at the rear of the hook, said holder comprising a tubular body portion having a longitudinal slot therethrough to permit passage of a' fishing line, a front plate adapted to limit the forward movement of the eel having a line receiving slot intersecting the longitudinal slot, said body having a transverse knife receiving slot intersecting the longitudinal slot at a point spaced rearwardly from the iront plate, to permit decapitation of the eel while its nose portion is held against the front plate, and a ydecapitation block within the forward end of the tubular body portion, said block having a line guiding groove near the forward end thereof.

3. A unitary eel holder devoid of moving parts and adapted to restrain the movements of a hooked eel coniined therein so as to perrnit decapitation of the eel, said holder comprising a tubular body portion having a line receiving slot extending lengthwise through the wall thereof, a front plate having a line receiving slot portion intersecting the longitudinal slot, said body portion having a transverse slot intersecting the longitudinal slot at a point spaced rearwardly 6 from the front plate to permit application of a knife for beheading the eel, and a decapitation block within the forward end of the tubular body having an inclined guide portion leading thereto whereby movement of the head of the eel is restrained during decapitation.

THOMAS NORMAN JONES, J R.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,515,014 Downs Nov. 11, 1924 2,091,893 Tillinghast Aug. 31, 1937 2,531,551 Brecht et al Nov. 28, 1950 2,547,592 MorrisV Apr. 3, 1951 Y FOREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,424 Great Britain 1891 

